CHICAGO (MCT) -- Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel said in a news conference Wednesday that he plans to quickly form his transition team and get involved in some of the still-undecided aldermanic contests.

Emanuel said he will form his transition team "with a quick step." He will call on people across the city -- in academia, nonprofit foundations and think tanks, and the private sector -- to be a part of city government.

"I've been involved in a few transitions, I'm more appreciative that I have more time," he said, referencing his outright win Tuesday to avoid an April 5 runoff election. "This is an opportunity to chart a different course."

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Emanuel said he had not called any Chicago alderman yet.

Emanuel said he will get involved in the 14 or so aldermanic races that will go to runoffs, repeating a campaign theme that he is looking to partner with the new City Council.

Huckabee on 2012 bid: I'm 'seriously contemplating'

WASHINGTON (MCT) -- Will he or won't he?

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday that he was "seriously contemplating" another run for the Republican presidential nomination next year.

But the 2008 candidate and TV and radio personality also talked about the many reasons it makes sense for him to postpone any campaign announcement, and why beating President Barack Obama could be challenging for any Republican.

The bottom line: He predicted that Obama can raise $1 billion and benefit from the power of incumbency, while Republicans could face a longer than usual primary season. For himself, Huckabee said, it makes sense to wait a while before deciding, both to make and save more money, and to be able to frame the issues longer as a pundit rather than with the constraints of a candidate.

Discovery poised for flight leading to retirement

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- After 143 million miles and nearly a year all told in orbit, space shuttle Discovery is poised to blast off at 4:50 p.m. today one last time.

It promises to be a sentimental journey for the six astronauts assigned to the mission as well as the supporting cast of thousands who have painstakingly prepped the world's most traveled rocketship.

Once more, NASA's fleet leader is paving a new road.

When Discovery returns from the International Space Station, it will be the first of the three surviving shuttles to be decommissioned this year and shipped off to a museum. The Smithsonian Institution has first dibs on this one.